‘Laws of Attraction’ producer David Bergstein sentenced to eight years in prison in $26M fraud case

June 28, 2018

David Bergstein was found guilty on charges including wire fraud and securities fraud. (Gary Friedman / LA Times via Getty Images)

David Bergstein, who was found guilty of defrauding his investors of more than $26 million, was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday.

Bergstein, who produced films including “Laws of Attraction” and “In the Heart of the Sea,” was found guilty in March on one count of conspiracy to commit investment adviser fraud and securities fraud, two counts of investment adviser fraud, two counts of securities fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud.

According to the Southern District of New York, the 55-year-old movie producer hid information from investors at Weston Capital Asset Management, transferred money without disclosing conflicts of interest and misappropriated funds in 2011 and 2012.

“As a Hollywood film producer and entrepreneur, David Bergstein is versed in common themes for fictional writing,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a statement.

“Deception, truth, and lies fit the narrative for Bergstein’s real-life scheme to bilk investors of more than $26 million. A unanimous jury has found Bergstein’s plot to be full of holes, and he has now been sentenced to eight years in federal prison.”